Longevity: Comprehending the Heart Method

With the Grand Elder currently managing the clan, Song Changsheng only needed to make a few arrangements for the Marketplace’s future before piloting the Flying Ship toward Luoxia City.

This journey was twofold: to retrieve the remains of his clansmen and late master, and to ascertain the current situation in Bian Province so he could find opportunities within the chaos.

The clan’s spies were all deployed in the area, but their limited Cultivation and status meant they were of little use. To obtain more critical information, Song Changsheng had to make the trip himself...

Twelve days later, after traveling day and night, Song Changsheng reached the Luoxia Mountain Range. Staring at the devastated landscape, he was struck by how much things had changed.

A few years ago, when he first came to the Luoxia Mountain Range with Song Luhuai, he had been deeply awed by its magnificent, seemingly endless rosy glow.

But now, shattered by the battle between Golden Core Cultivators, the Luoxia Mountain Range’s rosy light had dissipated. The ”Vast Rosy Clouds,” once hailed as the greatest wonder of the Daqi Cultivation World, were now completely a thing of the past.

’Alas, how the world changes in the blink of an eye.’ Song Changsheng felt a surge of emotion, but it was quickly overshadowed by his concern for the Song Clan’s future.

If they weren’t strong enough, then sooner or later, the Song Clan would also vanish like these rosy clouds, becoming a fleeting memory.

Song Changsheng stood at the prow of the Flying Ship. His gaze swept past the devastated Luoxia Mountain Range and the magnificent city beyond, finally resting on the rolling expanse of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

’The doom of the Demon Race... is it not also an opportunity for the Song Clan to rise?’

Having endured a great battle, Luoxia City was now even more ruined than the Luoxia Mountain Range. Its tall, imposing walls were covered in breaches and mottled bloodstains, a silent testament to the battle’s ferocity.

Xu Yunhe stood on the city wall, leaning on his sword. The cold wind lashed his face, sending a chill to his bones.

The blockade on Luoxia City was lifted after the great battle, but Xu Yunhe had not chosen to leave. He intended to use this opportunity to realize his own ambitions.

’Hundred Thousand Mountains, I’ll be there soon.’ Xu Yunhe murmured. Just as he was about to turn and leave, a speeding Flying Ship caught his eye.

And there, at the prow of the ship, he saw a familiar figure. A rare smile spread across his face as he leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of Sword Light and shooting forward.

Aboard the Flying Ship, Song Changsheng had sensed Xu Yunhe’s presence from far away. A warm smile graced his features as he watched the streak of Sword Light approach. Cupping his hands in greeting from across the distance, he called out cheerfully, ”Brother Yunhe, it’s been too long!”

”Hahaha! Changsheng, it feels like an eternity since we last met! I can’t believe you’re already a Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. It really puts me to shame.”

Xu Yunhe looked at Song Changsheng with a flash of envy. He remembered when they had first met; Song Changsheng’s Cultivation had been the lowest among them all. Yet now, only a few years later, he had come from behind to surpass everyone.

”Just a bit of luck,” Song Changsheng said with a strained smile. ”Have you been in Bian Province this whole time?” His power had indeed grown rapidly over the years, but ’how many could possibly understand the hardships he had endured?’

”That’s right. I’ve been gaining experience in Bian Province for the past few years.”

”Then is there any word from Fellow Daoist Zhu?” Song Changsheng hadn’t heard from Little Fatty in several years, ever since they had last parted, and a constant worry gnawed at him.

Xu Yunhe shook his head. ”No. Fellow Daoist Zhuang and I have been looking for any news of Fellow Daoist Zhu for years, but it’s like he’s vanished off the face of the earth. Not a single clue.”

Perhaps sensing Song Changsheng’s concern, he quickly added, ”Don’t worry. No news is good news. That guy values his life more than anyone. I’m sure he’s fine.”

”I hope so. Let’s head into the city.”

As they entered the city together, Song Changsheng looked at the bleak streets and the piles of uncleared rubble. ”As I recall, the Demon Beasts never made it inside the city walls, did they?” he couldn’t help but ask.

”That’s right. Although the Array was breached several times, the Demon Beasts never once set foot inside the city.

This was all the handiwork of the Blood Demons. I don’t know what foul means they used, but they somehow bypassed the City Defense Array and infiltrated the city.

Luckily, the City Lord had countermeasures prepared and didn’t let their plot succeed. But the battle was still horrific. Nearly half of Luoxia City was reduced to rubble.” Xu Yunhe’s voice was heavy with sorrow. As someone who had experienced the battle firsthand, he couldn’t help but feel a lingering fear even now when he recalled it.

If the City Lord hadn’t prepared those countermeasures, and if the Blood Demon Sect’s plot had succeeded... the Demon Beasts from the Hundred Thousand Mountains would have likely swept across the entire Daqi Cultivation World by now.

Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng clenched his fists. ’The Blood Demons... always the Blood Demons. That scum is everywhere!’

He took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions, then looked at Xu Yunhe. ”Brother Yunhe, do you know how the remains of the cultivators who fell in that battle were handled?”

At that, Xu Yunhe noticed the change in Song Changsheng’s demeanor. He thought for a moment before replying, ”I believe it was Fellow Daoist Zhuang who led the effort to collect the bodies. To prevent them from being desecrated and used by Evil Cultivators, most of the remains were cremated.

”If their friends or relatives were in the city, they could present proof at the City Lord’s Mansion to claim the ashes and personal effects. For those whose relatives were elsewhere, messages were sent out after the blockade on Luoxia City was lifted, inviting them to come to the City Lord’s Mansion to claim the remains.”

When Song Changsheng heard this, the sorrow in his heart intensified. ’So not even his body could be preserved?’

But he could understand Luoxia City’s reasoning. With so many corpses gathered in one place, the accumulation of residual souls and Evil Qi could easily have caused the dead to reanimate.